The Irish standard., 1887-10-29
SIR CHARLES CAYAN DUFFY
Interviewed Concerning His Plan
of q Constitution for
Ireland.
HOW HIS PLAN is RECEIVED,

Michael Dav1tt's Probable Objection
Wholly Unlike the Eng
Iish System.
Sir Charles passed through Paris quite
lately on his way to the Reviera. A
New York Herald representative took
the opportunity OF interviewing him
with regard to his ':l'lan Of a Fair Con-
stitution for Ireland" which he ex-
planned in remarkable article in the
current number Of the Contemporary
Review. The chief points in the plan,
it will be remembered, were as follows:
An Irish Parliament consisting OF a
Senate and 3 lower bouse would sit in
Dublin, The lower house would con
sist of 105 members; the Senate Of 81
members. The Senate would be partly
elected, partly nominated by the soyer-
eign (undBr the advice of her RESPONSE
BILE Irish ministers). The minority
would be insured q fair represen 5atiop.
prOporCionate to it's numerical lmpor-
tance in the country. The lord lieuten~
ant would continue to &c. as the Queen
OF Ireland's delegate, with the right OF
veto. The boldness of the scheme,
which, as Sir Charles Gavan Duffy
frankly stated, was intended not for the
benefit of only nationalists or nnionists,
but for the contentment of all parties
in Ireland, insured its widespread at
tention. But probably even it's author
himself hardly hoped il would have a
more than academic success. 1t WonId
seem, however, that the plan has made
marked impression upon the minds
of many prominent Irish and not few
English political men, while certain
| we'll known Ir;sh-American national
! lists, if we may judge from the opinions
they expressed at the time of Mr. Glad
stones bill, would be prepared TO &C
cept it as a final settlement Of the Irish
question.
/ How has your plan been received III
Ireland and England, Sir Chsries9:"
SalG the interviewer.
I'm Ireland" said Sir Charles, st
has received the assent O. several OF
the men whom the people would most
certainly follow. In England some Of
tbs leading members of the late Glad
stone ministry have approved its main
principles. l. regret that il ia not pos
sible to mention names. Sixty or
eighty important English papers have
devoted articles to tie plan. Many
have disapproved it, but nome have
treated it disrespeotfully. The chief
Irish conservative organ has declared
that, though it does not want home
rule at all, il home rule would come it
would regard the guarantees OF the
Protestant minority as satisfactory"
docs the Parnellite party approve Of
it?"
Eyes, certainly Leading men of the
Parnellite party are prepared TO ACCEPT
my proposals, and none have expressed
any absolute dissent from it. The pro-
posal to have two houses instead Of
single legislative council has been es-
peciallv and cordially approved, and
though my plan for the nomination Of
The Irish senators is not universally ac-
cepted, the majority Of those to whom
it has been referred are favorable
'.Do you really think, Sir Charles,
that the plan in it's broad lines, would
be acceptable as final settlement or
only with an arriere pensee, as step
toward complete Independence"
sit is impossible to give satisfactory
reply TO that question. But my firm
conviction is that such a settlement
would be final, Nobody, repeat, has
raised any serious objections to it, ex-
cept few English radicals who dislike
the idea OF having two chambers.
"What does Mr.. Davitt say to the
scheme?'
CHE has made no utterances On the
subject, but my impression is that he
disapproyes Of having two Irish cham
bers. This would probably be his chief
objection
Chow is it tnat, putting the press out
of the question, there has been no pub
lie pronouncement On the plan in Ire
land?"
1.-The coercion bill was just coming
into operation when the plan was pub
lished, and Irisbmen had more pressing
matters te think of. I have learned,
however, in conversation and by letter,
that the scheme has been widely and
favorably considered -
Have you any reason to believe that
the idea of imperial federation - to
which [ see you devote considerable
space in the gontemp mporary--is making
headway in ireland? ?'' s8E
Well, it's not very important at
present g yhesth or is not tmaking